River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-09-29
QUEER ROMANCE.

DfauCn boat odtNIua9 Aho loHc-SOilt-
looking and lugubrious Italian musi-
clans had just completed their finest
symphony, collected the nickels and
dimes of admiring listeners or of per-
sons glad to be rid of their dolefully
manipulated violins, and had gone
downstairs to drink before opening a
new musical program in another part
of the boat. A fat and greasy, smiling
faced black man was pickering his lips
for mocking-bird whistle, with aview
of capturing what few pennies the Ital-
ians had failed to charm out the pockets
of the passengers, when he was touch,
ed on the arm by tall and handsome
athletic man of perhaps 40, typica
Southern gentleman. la an instant
they had embraced-this greasy black
man and this elegant gentleman.
We all guessed it at once-that is, we
thought we did. 1t must be, it could be
nothing else than an old master and old
slave episode.
Well, it wasn't. Out of that meeting
the Tribune Stroller heard the queerest
bit of southern romance.
Where is your mistressp" was the
first question the negro was asked by
the gentleman, when they had come
away from the crowded deck and had
got into corner near the Stroller.
"Foah de Lawd, Mas'r George,
doan no, was the colored mans reply.
''De ole gemman dun bounce me, when
he fin out bout you and Miss Emily
Lawd, but Use glad to see you. Use
ben mighty neah starb once or
twice"
Then they talked low and long. 1t
came about presently that had an OPP
portunity to offer the Southerner a
light for his cigar. Shortly | offered
him cigar. Presently we were ex-
changing common-places that ripened
into an exchange OF opinion on yariou,
topics. At last mentioned the strange.
ness of his meeting with the negro.
got the whole story. 1t would get the
basis for an American novel.
There died in Virginia some time ago
the head of an old family Of that State
whose wealth footed up 100000 or
$S,000.000. Not little of it was in
vested in New York realty. BY viii
the bulk of this property was left
a single heir with requests
of $4,000 each to other heirs
There was talk of a contest of the will.
The prudent legatee made compromises.
In the case most pertinent to this story
he ageeed with a son-in-law of the dead
man that he should receive 100000
for himself and $4,000 for each of
his two daughters on the day that they
should become 21 years of age and
sign a release.
One of the other heirs refused to
compromise, brought suit against
property in New York, and recovered
some 100000. The son-in-law who had
made a compromise has been in mortal
dread lest the two daughters whose
fortunes he holds in his hands should
marry before reaching q and through
their husbands should become induced
to sue for larger share of the fortune
than had been arranged under the COM
promise. They are beautiful Southern
girls, 10 and 20 years of age. He is a
widOwer. Lately he has devoted his
entire time to their service, going about
the country with them, and zealously
warding off suitors. He never remains
long anywhere. The moment an ac-
quaintance ripens between either
one of them and gentleman
who becomes at all assiduous Ii.
his attentions, the father quietly an
nouUces their departure for some other
place. His argument to his friends is
that if either of the girls should be in
duced to bring a suit after marriage
she would risk being compelled to ac-
cept the $4,000 awarded her under
the will even though her cousin was
lucky enough to secure $750,000. The
100000 that he is sure of under the
compromise he thinks ample for them
and for himself They know nothing of
the situation.
The old darky whistler was a servant
of the family. The gentleman on the
boat had been a sutton of one of the
girls. His love had been returned, and
the colored man had been the ins'ru-
ment through whom their courtship
had been carried on; The father
found it out, discharged the boy, and
moved away so quickly that the lover
found himself cut off from comnunica-
ton with his mistress. He had come
North, he told me, in the hope of find
ing her at some one of the watering
places.
Queer story, wasn't lip
Well, the queerest part of it is to
come.
Strolling along the beach below the
West End Hotel that night | came
across two figures walking so close to
each other that the blindest observer
would have known them to be lovers.
1t was my tall friend of the boat and a
graceful young woman, whose 1.-THE
form and elastic step told of the physi-
cial strength for which Southern wom-
en- are noted, and at the same time, of
mental exaltation. Trailing along on
the sands / noticed the whistling darby.
He was creeping at a snail's pace but
keeping wary eye out. He had over
heard some of the condolences that the
young Southerner had poured into my
ear. SO when winked at him in the
moonlight he grinned till he showed
every tooth in his head. Then he
laughed with a suppressed outlaw as he
said: "Yessir, yessir. Mas'r George
dun foun' Miss Emily. Lawd bless 'em.
Yessir. vessir. De ole man he doan no
muffin bout it. Lawd, but l am dun
glad. boss"
looked down the beach. The hap
Ply couple were still strolling along in
the moonlight. / like strolls myself
and enjoyed their enjoyment.
If there hasn't been an elopement
from Long Branch since Saturday
there will be.